US3867889A — Apparatus for seaming pieces of textile fabric or…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 128 words

In apparatus for joining two pieces of material such as textile fabric, said apparatus comprising means for seaming the two pieces together and means for feeding the two pieces through the seaming means comprising a first feed device for one of said pieces and a second feed device for the other, the improvement comprising the provision of: means for sensing an out-of-registration condition of the trailing end of one of said pieces relative to the trailing end of the other piece as said pieces are fed through the seaming means; means for varying the relative speed of the two feed devices; and means responsive to the sensing means for controlling the speedvarying means to bring the trailing ends of the pieces substantially into registration one with the other.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 128 words

In apparatus for joining two pieces of material such as textile fabric, said apparatus comprising means for seaming the two pieces together and means for feeding the two pieces through the seaming means comprising a first feed device for one of said pieces and a second feed device for the other, the improvement comprising the provision of: means for sensing an out-of-registration condition of the trailing end of one of said pieces relative to the trailing end of the other piece as said pieces are fed through the seaming means; means for varying the relative speed of the two feed devices; and means responsive to the sensing means for controlling the speedvarying means to bring the trailing ends of the pieces substantially into registration one with the other.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the speed-varying means comprising a variable speed drive for one of said feed devices, and the control means comprising means for controlling said variable speed drive to vary the speed of said one feed device.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 2, the sensing means comprising a plurality of sensor units each for sensing out-of-registration conditions of the trailing end of one of said pieces relative to the trailing end of the other piece at a corresponding plurality of stations in the path of travel of the pieces.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said sensing means comprising two sensor units, a first of which has an opErative position spaced upstream from said seaming means a distance measured along the path of travel of said pieces corresponding generally to the length of said pieces, and the second of which is spaced generally half said distance upstream from said seaming means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 42 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 4, each of said sensor units comprising a first sensor for sensing passage of the trailing end of one piece and a second sensor for sensing passage of the trailing end of the other piece.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 92 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the sensing means comprising a sensor unit including a first sensor for sensing the passage of the trailing end of one piece and a second sensor for sensing the passage of the trailing end of the other, each sensor comprising a pair of elements adapted to be positioned along the path of travel of a respective piece and adjacent thereto, said elements adapted to actuate an electrical circuit to provide a signal upon the passage thereby of the trailing end of said respective piece.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 6, one of said sensor elements comprising a light source and the other comprising a light sensitive device.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said light source comprising a light emitting diode, and said light sensitive device comprising a phototransistor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 54 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said control means further comprising means for measuring the magnitude of the out-of-registration condition of the trailing end of one of said pieces relative to the trailing end of the other piece, said means for controlling the variable speed drive being responsive to said measurement means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 71 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 9, the measurement means comprising counter means for registering the magnitude of the out-of-registration condition as the pieces pass said sensing means and means for correcting the speed of the variable speed drive to effect a change in speed of said one feed device so as to bring the trailing ends substantially into registration one with the other when they reach said seaming means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 77 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 9, the measurement means comprising counter means for registering the magnitude of the out-of-registration condition as the pieces pass said sensing means and for registering the magnitude of correction made by said variable speed drive and comparison means for determining when said variable speed drive has changed the speed of said one feed device so as to bring the trailing ends substantially into registration when they reach said seaming means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 108 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the speed-varying means comprising a variable speed drive for one of said feed devices, the control means including a stepping motor for controlling the variable speed drive and further comprising a counter adapted to accumulate a count analogous to the time period between the passage of the two trailing ends of the pieces by the sensing means and equal to the number of steps of said motor required to vary the speed of one feed device to bring the trailing ends of the pieces substantially into registration in a preselected length of travel of the trailing ends of said pieces.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 12, said control means further comprising means adapted to initiate stepping of said motor after the trailing end of the longer piece passes said sensing means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 63 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 13, said control means further comprising a second counter adapted to accumulate a count equal to the number of steps taken by said motor and a comparator adapted to stop said stepping motor from further adjusting said variable speed drive when the count accumulated by said second counter equals the count accumulated by the first counter.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 121 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said control means further comprising first means responsive to said first sensor unit for measuring the magnitude of the out-of-registration condition of the trailing ends of the two pieces at a distance measured along the path of travel of said pieces corresponding generally to the length of said pieces and a second means responsive to said second sensor unit for measuring the magnitude of the out-of-registration condition of the trailing ends of the two pieces at a distance measured along the path of travel of said pieces corresponding generally to half the length of said pieces, said means for controlling the variable speed drive being sequentially responsive to both of the measurement means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 75 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 15, each of the measurement means comprising counter means for registering the magnitude of respective out-of-registration conditions as the pieces pass the respective sensor units and means responsive to said counter means for correcting the speed of the variable speed drive to effect a change in speed of said one feed device so as to bring the trailing ends substantially into registration when they reach said seaming means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 79 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 15, each of the measurement means comprising counter means for registering the magnitude of respective out-of-registration conditions as the pieces pass the respective sensor units and for registering the magnitude of correction made by said variable speed drive and comparison means for determining when said variable speed drive has changed the speed of said one feed device to bring the trailing ends of the pieces substantially into registration at said seaming means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 104 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said means for actuating the variable speed drive comprising a stepping motor, said control means further comprising a counter adapted to accumulate a count analogous to the time period between the passage of the two trailing ends of the pieces by the first sensor unit and equal to the number of steps of said motor required to vary the speed of the one feed device to bring the trailing end of the pieces substantially into registration in a length of travel of the trailing ends of said pieces generally corresponding to the length of said pieces.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 34 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 18, said control means further comprising means adapted to initiate stepping of said motor after the trailing end of the longer piece passes said first sensor unit.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 74 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 19, said control means further comprising a second counter adapted to accumulate a count equal to the number of steps made by said motor and a comparator adapted to stop said stepping motor from further adjusting said variable speed drive until said trailing ends have both passed said second sensor unit when the count accumulated by said first counter equals the count accumulated by the second counter.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 141 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 20, said control means further comprising a third counter adapted to accumulate a count equal to one-half the count accumulated by the first counter; a fourth counter adapted to accumulate a count analogous to the time period between the passage of the two trailing ends by said second sensor unit; and a second comparator adapted to cause said stepping motor to drive a number of steps equal to the difference in the count accumulated by said third counter and the count accumulated by said fourth counter, said second comparator causing said stepping motor to vary the speed of said one feed device to bring the trailing ends of the pieces substantially into registration in a length of travel of the trailing ends of said pieces generally corresponding to half the length of said pieces.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 47 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, means for causing both feed devices to feed at substantially the same rate before said sensing means has sensed an out-of-registration condition of the trailing end of one of said pieces relative to the trailing end of the other.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 74 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said control means further comprising means for causing the one feed device to feed at substantially the same rate as the other feed device before the sensing means has sensed an out-of-registration condition of the trailing ends of the two pieces, said means for controlling the variable speed drive being responsive to the means for causing both feed devices to feed at substantially the same rate.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 71 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 23, said means for causing both feed devices to feed at substantially the same rate comprising a sensor adapted to provide a signal when both feed devices are feeding at substantially the same rate, the control means being responsive to said signal to cease further adjustment of the variable speed drive until the trailing ends of the two pieces have passed the sensing means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 31 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the speed-varying means comprising means for varying the speed of one feed device, the other feed device operating at a substantially constant rate.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 39 words

In apparatus as set forth in claim 4, means mounting said first sensor unit for movement between its operative position and a position adjacent said second sensor unit for facilitating entry of the pieces into the two sensor units.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 145 words

Apparatus for joining two pieces of material such as textile fabric comprising: means for seaming the two pieces of material together; means for feeding the two pieces through the seaming means comprising a first feed means for one of said pieces and a second feed means for the other with one of the latter a variable speed feed means; means for sensing any out-of-registration condition of the trailing end of one of said pieces relative to the trailing end of the other piece as they are fed through the seaming means by the feed means; and means controlled by said sensing means for varying the speed of the variable speed feed means to vary the speed of feed of the piece of material being fed thereby through the seaming means to bring the trailing ends of the pieces substantially into registration one with the other.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 145 words

Apparatus for joining two pieces of material such as textile fabric comprising: means for seaming the two pieces of material together; means for feeding the two pieces through the seaming means comprising a first feed means for one of said pieces and a second feed means for the other with one of the latter a variable speed feed means; means for sensing any out-of-registration condition of the trailing end of one of said pieces relative to the trailing end of the other piece as they are fed through the seaming means by the feed means; and means controlled by said sensing means for varying the speed of the variable speed feed means to vary the speed of feed of the piece of material being fed thereby through the seaming means to bring the trailing ends of the pieces substantially into registration one with the other.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-02-24	1978-08-26	1979-02-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-02-24	1982-08-26	1983-02-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-02-24	1986-08-26	1987-02-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for seaming pieces of textile fabric or the like

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